Hopeman pass 100 goals and set up possible Moray welfare football clean sweep of trophies after 7-0 victory at Rothes A
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Four points clear at the top of the league and in two cup finals, Hopeman's superb Moray welfare season continued this week.
The coast side passed the 100-goal milestone for their relentless campaign - in just 18 games played - with a 7-0 league win at Rothes A on Tuesday.
Star striker James McLaren netted his sixth hat-trick of the season, scoring four times to take his tally to 36 goals in 17 games in all competitions.
Hopeman also discovered that they will meet reigning league champions in both cup finals this term, following Fochabers' 3-1 win over RAF Lossiemouth in the Mike Simpson Memorial Cup semi-finals.
At Rothes, the league leaders were in no mood to let up on their title charge as they swept aside their Speyside hosts.
They went in front inside two minutes when a Marc Connolly corner was cleared to Iain Lunan who drilled home from the edge of the box.
Chris Ramage then headed in his first goal of the season from a long throw by McLaren, who added the third himself on 36 minutes after beating the offside trap.
It was fitting that ace marksman McLaren was the man to score Hopeman's 100th goal of the season early in the second half. His penalty kick was saved by the substitute Rothes keeper but he followed up to make it 4-0.
McLaren then spun in the box to complete his hat-trick on the hour, and within two minutes he latched on to Mark Wood's pass to net his fourth of the night.
Rothes did hit the woodwork before a trademark Connolly free kick from 20 yards found the top corner of the net to complete the scoring.
A broken leg sustained by a Rothes player completed a miserable night for the home club.
RAF Lossiemouth's season is slipping away after being ousted from a cup competition by Fochabers for the second time this season.
In a repeat of last season's Mike Simpson Cup final, holders Fochabers won 3-1 at the air base, having dumped the service side out of the Tewnion Cup on penalties earlier this summer.
Fochabers will now play Hopeman in the final of both tournaments.
RAF Lossie started the season with 11 straight wins but with work requirements robbing them of some key players in recent weeks, they have won just one in six.
In an even first half, both teams played good football with chances at a premium until Andrew Walker fired Fochabers in front, and Lossie's Dean McKellar denied by Fochabers keeper Kieran Burchell from his powerful strike on goal.
The holders dominated the second period and when Jordan Clark scored for the fifth consecutive match to register his 16th goal of the season, Fochabers had doubled their lead.
Player boss Gary Burchell soon added a third, with Fochabers missing several other chances.
Harry Williams managed to pull a goal back for Lossie, who finished with ten men when McKellar limped off and the home side had no subs left to replace him.
In the league, a James McPherson hat-trick helped Craigellachie to a 3-0 victory over Lhanbryde United.
The Speyside team had an early effort cleared off the line, while Lhanbryde had strong penalty claims rejected in their first telling attack.
Craig got the first goal, McPherson finishing from close range after Jordan Gray broke down the wing and delivered a good cross.
A second soon followed as United failed to clear their lines and McPherson punished them.
His hat-trick goal arrived on 25 minutes and it was a superb effort, as a well-worked move took the ball into the striker's patch and he smashed it home on the half volley.
in the second half, the home side had a spot kick claim rejected while Lhanbryde saw a goalbound attempt cleared off the line by defender Ali Nicol.
Craigellachie pushed for more goals but hit the post twice and the bar as it finished 3-0.
Cullen were awarded a 3-0 victory from their league match at home to Portsoy, who were unable to field a team.
